Combine straw cutter



y 25, 1954 I A. w. STARDIG 2,679,276

COMBINE STRAW CUTTER Filed Dec. 22, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor Fig.2.

Albert if. Sta/dig May 25, 1954 A. w. STARDIG 2,679,276

COMBINE STRAW CUTTER Filed Dec. 22, 1949 20 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A 'IIIIIA Illlllll VII/IL IIIIIIII Illa II I III. v

I r1 z'enlor Albert W. Sta/dig WW FM Patented May 25, 1954 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention comprises novel and useful improvements in straw cutting devices, and more particularly pertains to straw cutting attachments for combines, of the type taught by J. T. Fiese et al., No. 2,148,547.

In the Fiese et al. patent, rotary teeth carried the straw past stationary fingers thereby cutting the straw. If the straw or other material were cut by the rotary teeth, then the straw would merely hang on the stationary fingers. lhe applicant device has overcome this disadvantage and further utilizes the straw feeding mechanism to discharge the cut straw from the cutting attachment.

An important object of this invention is to provide a straw cutting device which will positively engage the straw, cut the same, and uniformly distribute the straw over the ground so that the straw is easy to plow under resulting in a good mulch.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a straw cutting device in accordance with the foregoing object, which is durable, compact and of simple construction, yet highly efficient for the purposes intended.

An important feature of this invention resides in forming a straw feeder which positively engages the straw, carries it past the cutters, and then uniformly distributes it over the ground.

Another important feature of this invention resides in the provision for a readily detachable bracket which supports the cutters and guides the straw.

These, together with various ancillary objects and features are attained by this device, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated by way of example only in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a combine with the straw macerating device attached to the straw outlet,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectionalized top view of a combine with the straw macerating device attached,

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectionalized side view of the discharge outlet of a combine and showing details of the cutting device, taken substantially on the plane 33 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the cutting device taken substantially on the plane 44 of Figure 3, and

Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective detail view of one of the straw guiding and cutter retaining members with the cutters attached.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings wherein like numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, the straw cutting device indicated generally by the numeral III is adapted to be attached to a combine indicated generally by the numeral I2, preferably in the discharge chute I4 thereof.

The cutting device I0 is attached to the combine I2 by any suitable means such as the L- shaped brackets I6 which may be formed of angle iron or the like, and attached to the frame of the combine I2 by bolts I8 or rivets or the like.

Secured by fasteners 20, to the arms of L- shaped brackets I6, are straps 22 transverse to the longitudinal axis of the combine I2, the fasteners 20 being preferably removable in order to facilitate repairs to the cutting device I0. Detachably secured to the straps 22 by fasteners 24 are preferably arcuately shaped members 26 which are placed in sidewise aligmnent. These arcuately shaped members 26 may be formed of angle iron or the like and may be slightly laterally spaced from each other so as to permit short pieces of straw and the like to be discharged therebetween. Projecting upwardly and inwardly from the members 26, and secured thereto a in any desired manner such as by rivets or bolts 28, are cutting knives 30.

A straw feeding device consisting of a drum 32 and fingers 36 is rotatably attached as by the axle 34 to the combine II]. For this purpose a bearing support 38 is secured to the arms of the L-shaped brackets I3, preferably so as to be vertically adjustable relative thereto, bearings 40 being mounted on the supports 38, the axle 34 being rotatably mounted in the bearings 40.

The fingers 38 are preferably radially disposed on the drum 32 in annular rows, the rows being so spaced that the fingers 36 will pass intermediate the adjacent rows of the knives 30 when the drum 32 is rotated. In order to facilitate smoother cutting action, the adjacent rows of fingers 36 may be offset or angularly displaced relative to each other. Obviously the fingers 35 may be removably attached to the drum 32 to facilitate repairs, as by screw threaded engagement thereto.

The drum 32 is operatively connected to the source of power 46 which drives the combine by a belt or chain 42 or the like, which is connected to a pulley 44 on the drum shaft 34, the drum 32 being rotated thereby.

In operation the straw is blown or otherwise transferred by the combine towards the outlet, where it is engaged by the fingers 36 of the cutting device Ill. The drum, which is preferably rotated clockwise, positively engages the straw by means of the fingers 36 and passes it rearstruction and operation of the device; will bereadily understood, and further discussion is therefore believed to be unnecessaryt- However;

since numerous modificationswill readily occurv to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the above specification and accompanying; drawings, it is not intended to limit the inventionto that shown and; described, but. all suitable modifications may' be resorted to. falling; withinzthe scope of the appended-claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed. as new is:

1-.lIn.-. a; combina straw cutterhaving. a discharge; chute; brackets-mounted on opposite sides of! said; chute adjacent the discharge. opening thereof bearingmeans on-said bracketsa shaft journaled at, its ends in said extending between saidbrackets, a drum mounted on=said shaft. andaxially fingers projecting-from said. drum, elongated elements, connecting-said brackets to one another, said elements-being disposed on. oppositesides oi-said,drumbeneath-andparallelto the shaft, a.

members conforming to the curvatureof said drum extending between andconnected: at their ends, tosaid elongated elements; saidgmembers.beingspaced beneath said plurality, of, arcuate drum, upwardlyprojecting cutting blades. onsaid arcuate: members extending between the rows of fingers-- on said drum, said arcuate members having topsuriaces parallel'tc the periphery, of said, drum:and side; flanges depending from: one edge of each of said top surfaces, said cutting, blades.-

being; mounted on-said side flanges, an edge of each arcuatemember abutting the cuttingbladesottheiadjacent member .to prevent lateral flexure. ofsaidblades.

2-. In a combine straw cutter havinga dis,- charge chute,- brackets: mounted on opposite sides of said, chute adjacent the. discharge opening thereof, bearing means on said brackets, a shaft.

bearingineansand journaled at its ends-1 in said extending between saidbrackets, a drummounted-eon said shaftandaxially spaced rows otradial I fingers projecting from said. drum, elongated elementsaconnecting saidbracketsstor one another,-

said elementsbeing (iiSDOSSd-DII oppositesides of. said drum beneath and parallel to the shaft abearing means and spaced rows of radial plurality of arcuate members conforming to the curvature of said drum extending between and connected at their ends to said elongated elements, said members being spaced beneath said drum, upwardly projecting cutting blades on said arcuate members extending between the rows of fingers on said drum, said arcuate members having top surfaces parallel to the periphery of said drum and side flanges depending from one edge ofeach;of.said top surface'sgsaidt cutting blades being mounted on said side" flanges, an edge of each arcuate member abutting the cutting blades ci-the adjacent member to prevent lateral flexure of said blades, the ends of said side flanges terminating short of the ends of the top surfaces of said arcuate members and abutting said elongatedelements, theend portions of said top surfaces resting on said elongated elements, the distance between the periphery of said drum and the top surfaces of said arcuate members being approXimately'equa-Lto the-length of saidfingers.

3.- A combine strawoutter comrising asupport;

a, straw feeding, and distributing drum rotatably. mounted on, said support; a plurality of longitudie nally arcuate angle members having first and second relatively perpendicular legs, means attaching, said. angle members in sidewise align,- mentwith each other to said-support-concentrically of. saiddrumin spaced: relation thereto,

said firstleg ,of= each of; said angle members being parallel to the surface of said drum; the second attached-tosaid *secondzlegsof;eachrofsaid members and extending toward said drum, said-firstlegsofsaid angle; members presenting a uni-- iormly smooth ,dr-um. facing surface, radially projecting fingers on 'SaidIdIel/lm arrangedjn I axially spaced, circumferential rows, said blades projecting between the-rows of, said fingers; the edge of the top surface a, of' each of. saidarcuate; meme bers abut-ting the cutting blades: of I the-next adjac ent aarcuatc member;

References-Cited in the, file of this patent UNITED STAT-ES PATENTS Number Name Date 61,424 Haven Jan. 22; 1867 563,006 Barnes June 30, 1896 834,378 Gans' et, all Oct. 30,1906" 2,213,906 Ebersol Sept. 3, 1940 2,465,488 Sears, et al. Mar; 29, 1949' 2,539,136 Hi'te Jan. 23, 1951 2,611,407? Alloway Sept. 23, 1952" FOREIGN PATENT-S Number Country Date" 647,256- Fran'ce July-24; 1928 

